For when a little more volume is tolerable, this makes a great practice mute - it blows more freely than the standard shhmute, but it's louder.
Quality is good, it looks and feels well put together.
The sound is, however, pretty rancid. I can't imagine wanting to use that sound in performance.
I bought it with a little of both in mind - as a practice mute that would probably be a little less stuffy (it is) and as an on-stage quiet mute.
On the one practice front it's, but I don't dare use it onstage.
For the price I'm more than happy with it as a practice mute alone.
If looking for a mute for performance, definitely try before you buy.